myelin-basic-protein and Encephalitis--Japanese

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the most common cause of epidemic viral encephalitis in the world. The virus mainly infects neuronal cells and causes an inflammatory response after invasion of the parenchyma of the brain. The death of neurons is frequently observed, in which demyelinated axons are commonly seen. The mechanism that accounts for the occurrence of demyelination is ambiguous thus far. With a mouse model, the present study showed that myelin-specific antibodies appeared in sera, particularly in those mice with evident symptoms. Meanwhile, specific T cells proliferating in response to stimulation by myelin basic protein (MBP) was also shown in these mice. Taken together, our results suggest that autoimmunity may play an important role in the destruction of components, e.g., MBP, of axon-surrounding myelin, resulting in demyelination in the mouse brain after infection with the JE virus.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Viral; Apoptosis; Brain; Demyelinating Autoimmune Diseases, CNS; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese; Encephalitis, Japanese; Female; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Models, Animal; Myelin Basic Protein; Necrosis; T-Lymphocytes

This study reports the detection of autoantibodies to myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofilament proteins (NFP) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Japanese encephalitis patients. The diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis was confirmed in 72 patients by the presence of virus specific antibodies to JEV in the CSF (28/72), viral antigen in the CSF (19/72) and simultaneous presence of both antigen and JEV antibodies in the CSF in 25/72 patients. Autoantibodies to either purified NFP (10) or MBP (8) or both (17) were detected in the CSF of 35 patients by ELISA in contrast with the control CSF samples. Amongst them 20 had similar antibodies in the serum as well. Correlation of immunological findings with the clinical outcome revealed that the presence of autoantibodies in the CSF especially to NFP was associated with a fatal outcome (P < 0.05).

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antigens, Viral; Autoantibodies; Blotting, Western; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese; Encephalitis, Japanese; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Infant; Male; Myelin Basic Protein; Neurofilament Proteins; Neurons; Neutralization Tests; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Child, Preschool; Encephalitis, Japanese; Humans; Myelin Basic Protein